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NaRRRTIVE j7i_ 



OF THE 



BATTLE OF COWAN'S FORD, 

February 1st, 1781, 

BY ROBERT HENRY, 

AND 

Narrative of tte Battle of Kings Mountain, 

By Captain David Vance. 



AIaxuscript Preserved by Robert Henry, Esq. 



Copy Furnished by Lyman C. Draper, LL. D. 

OF Madison, Wisconsin. 



PUBLISHED BY D. SCHENCK, Sr. 



Greensboro, N. C, March 28th, 1891. 



Reece & Elam, Printers. 



^ 



^ 



IX 



A 






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<, 



PREFACE. 

Having seen the following most valuable and interest- 
ing narrative quoted very often in " King's MOUNTAIN 
AND ITS HerO! s," Written by Lyman C. Draper, L.L. D., 
of Wisconsin, I wrote the Doctor with a view of obtaining 
the original manuscript if possible, but was unable to pro- 
cure it. He however very generously intrusted to me the 
following copy which he had himself " carefully tran- 
scribed " from the original paper in his hands, in January 
1874, and which had been sent to him by Dr. J. F. E. 
Hardy, of Asheville, North Carolina. The original manu- 
script had been placed in Dr. Hardy's possession by Wm. 
L. Henry, of Buncombe County, a son of Robert Henr}'—- 
William L. Henry is still living. 

In a note to " King's Mountain and its Heroes," page 
259, is the following brief sketch of Robert Henry, who 
was wise enough to preserve this contribution to our 
Revolutionary history — to- wit: 

" Mr. Henry was born in a rail pen, in then Rowan," 
now Iredell county. North Carolina, January loth 1765. 
Full of patriotism though young, he shared in the trials 
and perils of the Revolution, and in due time recovered 
from the severe wounds he received at King's Mountain. 
In 1795, he was one of the party who ran the boundary 
line between North Carolina and Tennessee. He subse- 
quently studied law, and practiced his profession many 
years in Buncombe County. He served in the House of 
Commons in 1833 and 1834. He was a clear and forcible 
public speaker; and his memory deserves to be held in 
grateful remembrance for preserving the narrative of the 

*Tlus is manifestly an error. He was born in Tryon. See W. L. Henry's letter 
to Dr. Hardy. Tryon was changer! to Lincoln County. Lincoln was divitlefl 
and Mr. Henrys birthplace is in the present Gaston county. 



King's Mountain campaign and battle, so frequently cited 
in this work. He died in the new County of Clay, North 
CaroHna, January 6th, 1863, within four da}'s of attaining 
the patriarchal age of ninety-eight years, and he was un- 
doubtedly the last of the heroes of King's Mountain." 

Robert Henry lived in the vicinity of Tuckaseage Ford, 
on the Catawba river, which is about ten miles below 
Cowan's Ford, when Cornwallis crossed at the latter ford. 
He lived on the West side of the river in Lincoln County. 
For many years he owned the White Sulphur Springs 
about five miles South west of Asheville. It was a popu- 
lar resort in the summer for the wealthy planters from 
,the South and was the scene of much gayety and pleasure. 
Mr. Henry died in Clay County, the extreme Western 
county of the State, bordering on Georgia and Tennessee. 
I have myself heard my grandfather Michael Schenck, of 
Lincolnton, N. C, speak of Mr. Henry as "a great land 
lawyer." His practice as a surveyor, no doubt, making 
him formidable in such suits. 

The public is indebted to the Hon. Theodore F. Davidson, 
Attorney General of North Carolina, and a great- 
grandson of Captain David Vance, for the publication of 
this narrative. 

D. SCHENCK, Senior. 

Greensboro, N. C, March the 28th, 1891. 



ROBERT HENRY'S NARRATIVE. 



KING'S MOUNTAIN BATTLE, &c. 



To Dr. J. F. E. Hardy, 

Asheville. N. C: 
My Dear S/r, and Kind Friend: 

I send you the MS. of my father, ROBERT Henry. 
He was born in Tryon (now Lincoln) county, N. C, /// a 
rail pen, loth February, 1765; was a lawyer and surveyor 
by profession; was one of the first settlers in Buncombe 
county; taught School on Swannanoa, the first school 
taught in Buncombe county. He died in Clay county, 
N. C, February 6th, 1863, wanting but four days of being 98 
years old. THOMAS Henry, his father, died soon after 
the Revolution, of rheumatism contracted during the war. 
Thomas Henry was from the North of Ireland. 

I do not want this manuscript lost, as you see it is in 
Robert Henry's own hand, and a little relic. If not 
used, I should like it should be returned to 

Respectfully, 

WM. L. HENRY, 

Asheyille, 
Buncombe County, N. C. 



ROBERT HENRY'S NARRATIVE. 

I will proceed to point out and correct some of the 
errors in Wheeler's History of North Carolina, so far 
as respects the transactions of Cornwallis crossing Cow- 
an's Ford, on Catawba river, the ist of February, 1781; 
then I will give my own version of that transaction; then 
I will give the common report of the transaction shortly 
after it happened. 

Wheeler's History, p. 232-'33: "Here" (meaning at 
Cowan's Ford) "about six hundred militia under General 
Davidson were posted, and a slight skirmish occurred. 
A British Colonel (Hall) and three privates were killed, 
and thirty-six wounded." 

If we take this account to be true, we must conclude 
that these militia were very bad marksmen, for they had 
time to have fired five rounds each, which would have 
been three thousand single shots, at distances varying 
from fifty yards to less than tw^enty }'ards, over a naked 
sheet of water; that their enemy was not obscured bj^ 
smoke, being in water above the waist-band, and hanging 
together by their muskets; that not a single gun was fired 
by them whilst in the water. This story, if it bears tell- 
ing, cannot be accredited to be true, that in firing three 
thousand single shots they only killed four, including 
Col. Hall, and wounded thirty-six. The story appears 
further incredible from this— that in common battles on 
land, there are as many, and often more, men killed than 
wounded where the whole force from head to foot is ex- 
posed to fire of the opposite party. In the present 
case, the body, from above the waist-band to the top of 
the head was exposed — for all below was under water 
and secure from lead. Wounds in the upper part [of the 
body] are doubly as apt to kill as those in the lower ex- 
tremities, from the waist-band downward; hence we 



"vvould expect double as many killed on this occasion as 
wounded^but the reverse is told, that only four were 
killed, including Col. Hall, and thirty-six wounded. 

A further mistake may be noticed. The account states 
that Davidson had six hundred militia, whereas he had 
only three hundred. The whole of this quotation should 
pass for nothing. 

The next error that I will notice is on page 235 of 
Wheeler's History, which I quote: *' Soon after the ac- 
tion commenced" (meaning at Cowan's Ford) "General 
William Davidson was killed, greatly lamented by all 
who knew him as a talented, brave and generous officer." 
The true statement is this: Davidson was killed by the 
first gun that was fired on the British side on that occa- 
sion, for they did not fire a gun wdiilst in the river; and 
the gun that killed him was fired at the water's edge on 
the Mecklenburg side; and if Davidson's clothes had been 
examined, it is probable that they w^ould have shown the 
mark of powder. The whole of the Americans had left 
their stands or posts at the water's edge and judicioush' 
fled, lest the British might hem them in by the river; and 
an utter silence prevailed — not a gun firing on either 
side: Silence was first broken b}' the report of the gun 
that killed Davidson. 

A further quotation from the same page: "The Com- 
pany commanded by Gen. Graham was the first to com- 
mence the attack" (at Cowan's Ford) "on the British as 
they advanced through the river, wdiich was resoluteh' 
continued until they reached the bank, loaded their arms, 
and commenced a heavy fire upon his men, two of whom 
were killed." The whole of this is a gratuitous state- 
ment, for Gen. Graham was not there — nor was there 
either officer or private killed at that place except Gen. 
Davidson ; nor was there any one wounded there except 
Robert Beatty, who afterwards died of the wound. Gen, 



Graham and his company may have been at Davidson's 
camp, three quarters of a mile from the F'ord, and two of 
his men might have been killed there, if they were too 
tardy in making their escape before the British arrived 
there. 

Another quotation from Wheeler's History, p. 264: 
"At day break the British army under Cornwallis, on the 
1st February, 1781, entered the waters of Catawba, then 
swollen by heavy rains, at Cowan's Ford. The morning 
was dark and rainy. The light infantry under Col. Hall 
entered first, followed by the grenadiers and the battalions. . 
The piquet of Gen. Davidson challenged the enemy; re- 
ceiving no reply the guard fired. This turned out the 
whole force of Davidson, who kept up a galling fire from 
the bank." 

Observe the morning was dark but not rainy. David- 
son's army was stationed three quarters of a mile from the 
Ford, and did not fire a gun at the British whilst in the 
river, nor after they came across; all the firing by the 
American side in the river and on the bank was done by 
the guard. 

Now, I will give my own version of the transaction of 
Cornwallis crossing Catawba River at Cowan's Ford, ist 
February, 1 781. Robert Beatty, a lame man, had taken 
up a school near the Tuckaseage Ford, and had taught 
two days, and was J;eaching the third, when news came 
to the School-house that Cornwallis was camped at For- 
ney's, about seven miles from the School-house; that 
Tarleton was ranging through the country catching whig 
boys to make musicians of them in the British army. 
The master instantly dismissed the scholars, directing 
them to go home and spread the news, and retired him- 
self I went home, and that night Moses Starret, Alexan- 
der Starret, George Gillespie, Robert Gillespie, and 
Charles Rutledge came to my father's! We lay out that 



night, and .shortly before day-Hght my brother, Joseph 
Henry, who had left the army to give the news, and 
had crossed Catawba at John Beattie's in a canoe; and 
when he left the army, it was expected that Cornwallis 
w^OLild cross the river at Tuckaseage Ford. Early in 
the morning this company crossed the river at Beat- , 
ties, about two miles below Tuckoseage Ford, where we 
hid our canoe, staid some time at Beatties' — then went up 
to the Tuckaseage Ford, and the army was at Cowan's 
Ford, we went up the river to John Nighten's, who 
treated us well by giving us potatoes to roast, and some 
whisky to drink. We became noisy and mischievous. 
Nighten said \\'e should not have any more whisky. I 
proposed to go to the camp at the Ford, if anyone would 
let me have a gun and ammunition. My brother said he 
would give me his; Charles Rutledge proposed also to 
accompany me if he had a gun and ammunition; when 
Moses Starret gave him his gun. When about to start, I 
gave Nighten a hundred dollar Continental bill for a half 
a pint of whisky. My brother gave another bill of the 
same size for half a bushel of potatoes. We dispatched 
the whiskey, Being thus equipped, we went to the Ford, 
which was about a mile and a half When we arrived, 
the guard that was there, thirty in number, made us 
welcome; the officer of the guard told us that Cornwallis 
would certainly attempt to cross that night or early in 
the morning; that each one of the guard had picked their 
stands to annoy the British as they crossed, so that when 
the alarm was given they would not be crowded, or be 
in each other's way— and said we must choose our stands. 
He accompanied us — Charles Rutledge chose the upper- 
most stand, and I chose the lowest, next the getting out 
place of the Ford; the officer observed, that he consider- 
ed that Davidson had done wrong, for that the army 
should have been stationed at the Ford — instead of 



lO 

which it was encamped three-fourths of a mile off, and 
that some person acquainted in the neighborhood of 
Forney should watch the movements ofCornwallis' army, 
and immediately when they would attempt to march, to 
to hasten to the river and give the alarm; then that Da- 
vidson's arm}' might be in readiness to receive them; the 
river being in the situation that it was then in, and the 
army thus prepared to receive them, said that Cornwallis 
and a million of men could not cross without can- 
non as long as our ammunition would last. This I 
thought was a large expression; but since I think he was 
correct."" He mentioned to each man of the guard to go 
to his stand again and examine it, so that when the 
alarm was given, that there should be no mistakes then 
made. I went to mine, and was well pleased with it — 
for in shooting, if I would miss my first aim, my lead 
would range along the British army obliquely and still 
do damage, and that I could stand it until the British 
would come to a place the water was riffling over a rock, 
then it would be time to run away. I remember that I 
looked over the guard to see if there was any person with 
whom I was acquainted, and found none but Joel Jetton, 
and my lame school-master, Robert Beatty, with my 
comrade, Charles Rutledge. 

Gen. Joseph Graham's name is mentioned by Wheeler. 
I was acquainted with him; but he was not there. Short- 
ly after dark a man across the river hooted like an owl, 
and was answered; a man went to a canoe some distance 
off, and brought word from him that all was silent in the 
British camp. The guard all lay down with tlieir guns 
in their arms, and all were sound asleep at da\-break, 
except Joel Jetton, who discovered the noise of horses in 
deep water. The British pilot, Dick Beal being deceived 

*(ien. Greene had admonished Davidson of the danger of Tarluton crossing; secrei- 
Iv at some private ford and fallin^j; on his rear, and for this reason he kept his main 
force at some distance from the river. D. S. 



n 

by our fires, had led them into swimming water. Jetton 
ran to the Ford, the sentry being sound asleep, Jetton 
kicked him into the river, endeavored to fire his gun, but 
it was wet: Having discovered the army, ran to our fires, 
having a fine voice, cried "the British! the British!" and 
fired a gun — then each man ran to his stand; when I got 
to my stand, I saw them red, but thouglit fi-om loss of 
sleep my eyes might be mistaken, threw water into them; 
by the the time I was ready to fire, the rest of the guard 
had fired. I then heard the British splashing and making 
a noise as if drowning. I fired, and continued firing until 
I saw that one on horse-back had passed my rock in the 
river, and saw that it was Dick Beal moving his gun 
from his shoulder, I expected, to shoot me. I ran with 
all speed up the bank, and when at the top of it, William 
Polk's horse breasted me, and Gen. Davidson's horse, 
about twenty or thirty feet before Polk's horse, and near 
to the water's edge. All being silent on both sides, I 
heard the report of a gun, at the water's edge, being the 
first gun fired on the British side, and which I thought 
Dick Beal had fired at me. That moment Polk wheeled 
his horse, and cried "fire away, boys; there is help at 
hand." Turning my eye round, designing to run awa)', 
I saw my lame school-master, Beatty, loading his gun by 
a tree; I thought I could stand it as long as he could, 
and commenced loading. Beatty fired, then I fired, the 
heads and shoulders of the British being just above the 
bank; they made no return fire; silence still prevailed. 
I observed Beatty loading again; I ran down another 
load — when he fired, he cried "it's time to run. Bob." I 
looked past my tree, and saw their guns lowered, and 
then staightened myself behind my tree. They fired and 
knocked off some bark from my tree. 

In the meantime Beatty had turned from his tree, and 
a bullet hit him in the hip, and broke the upper end of his 



12 

thigh bone; he fell, still hallowing for me to run. I then 
ran at the top of my speed about one hundred yards, 
when a thought struck me that the British had no horse- 
men to follow me, and that Davidson's army would be 
down at the river, and a battle would take place. Where- 
upon I loaded my gun, and went opposite to the Ford, 
and chose a large tree, sat down by it, and fired about 
fifty yards at the British. They fired several guns toward 
the place where I was; but their lead did not come 
nearer to me than about two rods. 

I will now account for the great difference between the 
number of the British killed and those wounded, as 
stated by Wheeler. The water at the Ford was fully 
waist-band deep, and in many places much deeper, with 
a very heavy pressing current, and when a man was 
killed or badly wounded, the current immediately floated 
him away, so that none of them that were killed or badly 
wounded were ever brought to the shore; and none but 
those slightly wounded reached the bank; Col. Hall fell 
at the bank — I account for the three British that were killed 
as stated by Wheeler, in this way: Beatty, the lame 
schoolmaster, an excellent marksman, fired twice, at a 
distance of not more than twenty yards, at the British, 
after they had ascended the high bank, as before stated; 
and I fired twice about the same distance. I therefore 
think Beatty being the best marksman killed two, and I 
killed one. 

Wheeler states that on the American side there were 
two killed: I observe, if there was any one killed that it 
was not at the river, for the British did not fire a gun 
whilst in the river, and when they arose the high bank, 
all were gone but Beatty and myself; that if any were 
killed, it was at Davidson's camp, three quarters of a 
mile from the Ford of the river. But I never heard of 



13 

any one eit"her killed or wounded of tlie Americans ex- 
cept Robert Beatty on that occasion. 

I will give an account of the balance of my route after 
firing the last time, as heretofore stated. I went down 
the river to John Beattie's, where we had left our canoe; 
there I found my company, the two Starrets, the two 
•Gillespies, my brother Joseph, and my comrade Charles 
Rutledge. I returned the gun to my brother after count- 
ing the cartridges — found seven missing — therefore I had 
fired seven times, as I supposed. The company reniain- 
■ed at Beattie's until the next morning; when we took our 
'Canoe to cross the river to the Lincoln side, it was pro- 
posed that we would go to James Cunningham's fish-trap, 
and see if there were any fish in it. When we arrived at 
the trap, there were fourteen dead men lodged in it, 
several of whom appeared to have no wound, but had 
drowned. We pushed them into the water, they floated 
off, and vvent each to his own home. This is my version 
of that transaction. 

Now, I will give the common report of it. I will be- 
.gin with the report of Nicholas Gosnell, one of our neigh- 
bors, a Tory, who was in Cornwallis' army when the}* 
crossed the Catawba at Cowan's Ford. It was frequent- 
ly repeated from the extraordinary language he used, and 
from his manner of expression — it is therefore better im- 
printed on my memor)'. I will endeavor to give it in his 
own language: " His Lordship chose Dick Beal for his 
pilot, as he well know'd the Ford, and a durned pretty 
pilot he was, for he suffered himself to be led astray b}' 
the Rebel fires, and then had to go down to the Ford 
afterwards; but if he did bad one way, he did good 
another, for he killed their damned Rebel General. The 
Rebels were posted at the water's edge — -there wan't 
many on 'em; but I'll be durned if they didn't slap the 
wad to his Majesty's men suicidally! for a while; for I 



saw 'em hollcrin and a snortin and a dro\rni'n — the river 
was full on 'em a snortin, a hollerin and a drownin until 
his Lordship reached the off bank; then the Rebels 
made straight shirt tales, and all was silent — then I tell 
you his Lordship was Bo sure Super gille cristilum [?],"' 
and when he rose the bank he was the best dog in the 
hunt, and not a rebel to be seen." This is the Tory ver- 
sion of Cornwallis crossing Catawba at Cowan's Ford. 

The following is the report of every jTerson who lived at 
or near the river between Cowan's Ford and Tucka- 
seage Ford: That a great number of British dead were 
found on Thompson's fish-dam, and in his trap, and num- 
bers lodged on brush, and drifted to the banks: that the 
river stunk Avith dead carcases; that the British could not 
have lost less than one hundred men on that occasion. 

Report of soldiers who were in Davidson's army. 
When Wm. Polk returned from the river after General 
Davidson was killed at Cowan's Ford, three quarters of 
a mile from the Ford — they stated that when William 
Polk returned from, the Ford, and reported the death of 
Gen. Davidson, that some of the army had left, and the 
rest were in confusion; that Polk prudently marched 
them off, not being able to fight Cornwallis on equal 
terms. 



*This seems to be some silly slang of that day. 



V5 



KIxNG'S MOUNTAIN EXPEDITION. 

1 will now give the statement of Col. D. Vance and 
Gen. Joseph McDowell of the manner of raising the army 
to oppose Col. Ferguson — its march — and the defeat of 
Ferguson. 

This part is the statement of CoL Vance; and on a sar- 
castic and sneering reply by M. Matthews saying that 
they, to wit the army under Campbell, was a firece and 
formidable set of chickens, and could make great havoc 
among eggs, if each one was provided with a stick. This 
elicited a more extensive reply and statement of the whole 
affair and its consequences from Gen. J. McDowell. I 
will first give the reasons why Vance and McDowell 
made these statements. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina made an 
agreement with that of Tennessee to run and mark the 
Division line between the two States, and in the year 1799, 
the State of North Carolina appointed Gen. J. McDowell, 
Col. David V'^ance,'^' and Mussentine Matthews,! commis- 
sioners on the part of North Carolina, who associated 
John Strother and Robert Henry surveyors, with the 
necessary numbers of chain-bearers, markers, and pack- 
horsemen for that business, who met and went to the 
White-Top Mountain, a spur of the Stone Mountain, 
where the Virginia line crossed the latter. Strother did 
not appear at the commencement. The company were 
asking a great many detached questions relative to 
Ferguson's defeat — at length requested that McDowell or 
Vance would give them a connected account of the whole 
transaction from first to last. It was agreed that Col. 
Vance should give that account. The Colonel agreed to 
do so on consulting with McDowell, our pilot, Gideon 

* Mcmlier of the House of Commons from Burke, 1791. 

t Member of House Commons from Iredell from 17S9 to 1S02. 



16 

Lewis, who had been a news-carrier, and myself, [and 
relate it] on the first wet day that should happen so that 
we could not prog^ress with the line. 

AccordhTgl)^ a wet day happened, when we were at 
the head of the Round-About on the Stone Mountain. 
Our bark camip was soon fixed, and Col. Vance gave the 
account, ending" with the details of the battle of King's 
Mountain. Whereupon M. Matthews observed that we 
(meaning the army) were a fierce and formidable set of 
blue hen's chickens among egg.S', if each one was provided 
with a stick." This brought a reply from McDowell. 
That being done, I was provided with a note-book, sepa- 
rate from my surveyor's book, to take down a memoran- 
dum of particular things that happened, and commenced 
taking a memorandum of Vance's account of that trans- 
action. Whereupon Col. Vance, who was an elegant 
clerk, told me as there was only one surveyor, that I had 
not time to do it— and if I would give him my book, that 
he would write it for me, as he had leisure. He took the 
book, and returned it to me, saying he had paper of his 
own, at a Spring by the side of Bright's Path in the Bald 
Ground on the Yellow Mountain. Having taken down 
his own recollections, and also Gen. McDowell's reply 
to M. Matthews — -which is as follows: 

•'As I have in some measure to depend on my memo- 
ry, I will begin with Col. Shelby's retreat after his de- 
feating the British at Ennoree. Col. Charles McDowell 
had detached Shelby, Sevier, &c., with a party to go 
round where Ferguson was camped — who defeated the 
British and Tories at Ennoree. When Col. McDowell 
received intelligence of Gate's defeat, and sent an ex- 
press to Col. Shelby to retreat, Gen. Joseph McDowell 
was then Major, and I was Captain. Col. Shelby called 
a council of all his officers to know what was best to do. 
It was agreed that we must make a wood's trip to get 



17 

round Ferguson and join Col. C. McDowell, carrying the 
prisoners alternately on horseback, and running on foot 
short distances. After going some distance, found that 
Col. C. McDowell had left his camp, and was retreating 
towards Gilbert Town, we altered our course and over- 
took him and the main army. 

After joining Col. C. McDowell, it was proposed by 
Cols. Shelby and Sevier that they thought an army of 
volunteers could be raised to defeat Ferguson, stating 
that P\*rguson's main business was to kill the Whig 
stock; that he would be at the heads of Broad River, and 
then go to the head of Catawba to execute that purpose, 
which would give time to raise an army of volunteers 
over the mountains, and in Wilkes and Surry counties. 
All the officers, and some of the privates were consulted, 
and all agreed that it was right to make the trial to raise 
an army. It was then agreed that the prisoners should 
be sent to Virginia; that Cols. Shelby and Sevier and 
their men should immediately go over the Mountains 
home and procure volunteers ; that Col. Chas, 
McDowell should send an express to Cols. Cleveland and 
Herndon in Wilkes for them to raise volunteers; and 
that Col. C. McDowell should provide some way to pre- 
serve the Whig stock on the head of Catawba, and pro- 
vide some way also to give intelligence of Ferguson's 
movements. 

The prisoners were accordingly dispatched to Virginia. 
Cols. Shelby and Sevier went immediately over the 
mountains; and Col. C. McDowell wrote to Cols. Cleve- 
land and Herndon to raise volunteers to be ready to 
march upon the shortest notice; — he then called the men 
on the head of Catawba, and first proposed that they 
who could not go over the mountains, should take pro- 
tection on the advance of Ferguson and thereby save 
the whig stock: Daniel Smith (afterwards Colonel), 



Thomas Lytic, Robert Patton and J. McDowell of the 
Pleasant Garden, absolutely refused, and stated that they 
would drive the Whig stock into the deep coves under 
the eave of the Black Mountain; that others might take 
protection and save the stock that remained behind. 
John Carson, afterwards Colonel, Wm. Davidson, Ben- 
Davidson and others were appointed to take protection 
to save the remaining whig stock. 

James Jack and Archibald Nail were appointed to be 
news-bearers over the Yellow Mountains to Shelby and 
were to be passing continually — -that they were to re- 
ceive the news in the Turkey Cove relative to Ferguson's 
movements. That Joseph Dobson and James McKoy 
were to be bearers of the like news to Cols. Cleveland 
and Herndon, and that they were to receive their news 
at the Montgomery place, afterwards Joseph Dobson's 
place. 

Col. Ben. Cleveland appointed his brother, Robert 
Cleveland and Gideon Lewis, our pilot, to be news- 
bearers from B. Cleveland to Shelby. Thus the news 
went the rounds as fast as horses could carry their riders. 

After Col. C. McDowell had thus arranged his business, 
he received the news that Ferguson was at Gilbert Town. 
He then collected all the men that he could procure from 
Burke county and went to Shelby and Sevier, who had 
engaged Col. Campbell, of Virginia, also to raise volun- 
teers. The orders given to the volunteers were to equip 
themselves as quick as possible and have nothing to 
provide when they were called on to march, but to saddle 
their horses and march on the shortest notice. Those 
who could not go supplied those who could with any 
thing they stood in need of. It was also announced to 
the volunteers by the officers, that a battle with Ferguson 
was determined upon, and that they might rely on a 
battle before they returned home. 



19 

The news went the rounds by the news-carriers 
already mentioned, of every thing that happened in 
Ferguson's camp — until the news came that John Carson 
had played a supple trick on Ferguson— that having 
saved almost all the whig stock that had not been driven 
into the coves by Daniel Smith and company- — that 
Ferguson began to suspect Carson for saving whig stock 
— there being a large quantity of Tory cattle ranging 
about the large cane-breaks where David Greenlee lives, 
and that a party of Ferguson's were fitted out to kill 
whig stock, and that they designing to go to that place, 
and another party was going to the Montgomery place — 
that is the place where Joseph Dobson lives on— for the 
like purpose. Carson went with the party going to the 
Montgomery place, without informing the party going to 
the Greenlee place that the cattle ranging there were 
Tory stock, the owners being in Ferguson's camp. The 
parties each went to their places of destination, and re- 
turned into camp; those who went to the Greenlee place 
reported that they had killed over one hundred head of 
three, four, five and six year old rebel steers at the Mc- 
Gonaugh place. J. Carson observed that he expected 
that those steers were the stock of Joseph Brown, Dement 
and Johnstone, who were there in the camp. Whereupon 
Brown, Dement and Johnstone went and discovered that 
the steers there killed were every one theirs. This turn- 
ed the Tories rather against Ferguson; whereupon Fer- 
guson stated that the Rebels had out-witted him, and 
that he could not effect his purpose there — that he would 
start back to Gilbert Town on a given day. 

The news was on its passage to Shelby and Cleveland 
as soon as the breath left Ferguson's mouth — it did not 
stop day or night — it was soon at the place of destina- 
tion. Immediately Shelby directed Campbell and his 
men to meet him at a given time at Wautaga and Sexier 



20 

to meet him and Campbell at ten o'clock ow a given day 
at the Spring in the Bald Ground, on the Yellow Moun- 
tain, at the side of Bright's path — all of which were done 
with great exactness. He issued orders for Cleveland 
and Herndon to meet him on a given day on Silver 
Creek, in Burke county; and ordered D. Smith, J. Mc- 
Dowell, Lytle, Fatten, and those who had taken protec- 
tion, to meet him at Wm. Nail's by a given night, which 
was the night next after the meeting on the Yellow 
Mountain. 

When the officers met at the Spring on the Yellow 
Mountain, it was quickly agreed that they would send 
Col. Charles McDowell with an express to Gen. Gates, 
for him to send an experienced officer to conduct them 
in a battle with Ferguson, and as soon as Chas. Mc- 
Dowell, with his silver-mounted Tom. Simpson rifle, had 
disappeared, steering for the path on the Linville Ridge, 
the army descended the Monntain on Bright's path and 
went to Wm. Nail's that night where they met Daniel 
Smith, Thomas Lytle, Joseph McDowell and Robert 
Patton, the persons who had driven the whig stock into 
the coves under the eave of the Black Mountains, and 
also those who had taken protection. When it was 
agreed, that D. Smith, T. Lytle and J. McDowell should 
remain at the head of the river, as they were considered 
equal to a small army against Indians; and that the In- 
dians were expected to fall on the frontiers as soon as 
Ferguson left it; and that they should have those who 
had taken protection to assist them. It was agreed that 
Joseph McDowell, (now Gen.) should take twenty men 
with him, and follow Ferguson's trail for fear of surprise 
— who at the head of Silver Creek, near the Pilot Moun- 
tain, came on a squad of Tories who were designing to 
follow Ferguson, and killed some of them and put the 



21 

rest to flight and returned to the army in the morning 
after staying the night at Wm. Nails's. 

The army marched in to Silver Creek, and at the place 
appointed met Cols. Cleveland and Herndon so exactly 
that it scarcely occasioned a halt — proceeding on to 
Cane Creek of Broad River at a place afterwards called 
Probit's place. 

Major Billy Chronicle with twenty men joined the 
army; no halt called — still proceeding on. At Camp 
Creek Cols. William Graham, with one hundred and six- 
ty men well mounted, joined— who gave intelligence that 
Ferguson had left Gilbert Town and had crossed Broad 
River at Twitty's Ford on his way to Cruger at Ninety- 
Six and that Col. Willams was near to Gilbert Town. 
It was agreed among the officer's [while] still on the 
march, that Col. Herndon's foot could not overhaul Fer- 
guson before he would reach Ninety Six. They then began 
to count the number of horsemen that they could raise. Be- 
ginning with those under Col. Graham and those of Major 
Chronicle, Graham's men i6o, Chronicle's 20, were to 
count 200 instead of 180. Campbell mentioned to Chron- 
icle that the lad whom he had with him should not hear 
their enumeration. Chronicle replied that he was a son 
of"01d Rugged and Tough;"that his cheek was too well 
hooped to leak — the lad [Robert Henry] then [listening] 
is now our surveyor. They numbered on, and found 
their true number to be between six and seven hundred; 
but told the soldiers it was between iioo and 2000 [1200] 
counting Williams' men. 

Orders were then given for all who were unable, from 
any cause that would hinder him in a severe march, 
should fall back into the foot troops and give their horses 
to footmen [who needed them, in order to be properly 
equipped for the march] ; a number of exchanges were 
made. Further orders were given at Gilbert Town to 



22 

fvilf som'e beeves, which was done; and orders were givem 
for the horse nen to be ready to march at a given time^ 
which was very short. Some of the troops who were 
tardy got none [of the beef?]. The line of march was- 
taken to cross Broad River at Pear's Ford, below the 
mouth of Green River, to take a near cut on Ferguson 
on his way to Ninety Si.x. The day and night were oc- 
cassionally showery. We marched ou, crossing Ferguson's 
trail in the track (.'), and pi'o-ceeded to the Cowpens and 
came to a Tory's ho'use, pulled him out o{ bed, treated 
him roug'hiy, and asked him at what time Ferguson had 
passed that place. He said he had not pas.sed at all; 
that he had torch pine — 'that we might light it and search, 
and if we could find the track of an army we might hang" 
him, or do what we pleased with him; and if no sign of 
an army could be found, he would expect more mild 
treatment. Search wa.'^ made and no sign of an army 
found. 

We then camped, and began to send per.sons to find 
Ferguson's track. Chronicle proposed to send Enoch 
Gilmer as one; it was objected to because he was not ac- 
quainted with the country. Chronicle said that he could 
find out any thing better than those acquainted, for he 
Could act any character that he pleased; that he could cry 
and laugh in the same breath, and those best acquainted 
would believe that he was in earnest in both; that he 
could act the fool so that those best acquainted with him 
Would believe him to be deranged; that he was a shrewd, 
cunning fellow, and a stranger to fear. Hence he was 
[sent] among others. He went to a Tory's house on 
Ferguson's trail and stated to him that he had been 
waiting on Ferguson's way from Twitty's Ford to Ninety- 
Six, but missed finding him; that he wished to join the 
army. The Tory replied, that after Ferguson had crossed 
the river at Twitty's Ford, he had received an express from 



I^ord Cornwairis for him to join the main army at Char' 
Jotte; that he had called in Tarleton, and would call in 
his out-posts, and give Gates another defeat, and reduce 
North Carolina to British rule as he had South Carolina 
and Georgia, aaid n-ould enter Virginia with a larger 
army than ever had been in America. Gilmer gave this 
.account to the officers. This was some time in the day. 
They then commeaced marching to th-e Cherokee Ford 
on Broad River. Night came on, and our pilots missed 
their way, the night being dark and occasionally raining, 
so that when we came near to the river it was near day- 
light; and when we came to the river hills it was agreed 
that we would send Enoch Gilmer to see whether Fergu- 
son had not been apprised of us and would attack us in 
the river. Orders were given to keep our guns dry, for 
it was raining. Gilmer was gone for some ti^ne, when 
his voice was heard in the hollow singing Barney-Linn, 
a favorite black-guard song. This was notice that all 
was right. Orders were given that the largest horses 
should be on the upper side. The order was not obeyed. 
The river was deep, but it was remarked that not one was 
■ducked. After passing the river, it was agreed that 
Enoch Gilmer should go ahead, and make all the dis- 
coveries about Ferguson that he could. He went off in 
a gallop. The officers kept in front of the privates at a 
very slow gait— the men cursing and stating if we were 
to have a battle, to let it be over, &c. 

All were very hungry, and when we would come to a 
cornfield, it was soon pulled. The soldiers would cut 
part of the raw corn off the cobb, and haul the remainder 
to their horses. After travelling some miles, the officers 
saw Gilmer's horse at a gate about three-quarters of a 
mile ahead. They gave whip to their horses, and went 
at full speed to the gate — alighted, and went into the 
house. Gilmer was sitting at a table eating. Campbell 



24- 

exclairned, "We have got you — you d d rascal." 

Gilmer replied, " a true King's man by G d." Camp- 
bell in order to try Gilmer's metamorphosis, had provided 
himself with a rope, with a running noose on it, threw it 
over Gilmer's neck. Gilmer commenced crying and beg- 
ging. Campbell swore that they would hang him on the 
bow of the gate— when Chronicle stated that it was 
wrong to hang him there, for his ghost would haunt the 
women, who w^ere now in tears. Campbell observed that 
was right, that we will hang him on the first stooping 
limb of a tree that they should pass on the road — then 
sending Gilmer along one or two hundred yards, Gilmer 
crying and begging for his life, the rope was taken from 
his neck, and he mounted his horse, and was asked 
Avhat news he had obtained. He stated as follows: — 
That when he came to the Tory's house, he professed to 
be a true King's man, that he was wishing to join Col. 
Ferguson, and desired to know where he was, and that 
he had kissed the two Tory women; that the youngest 
of the two informed him, that she had been in Ferguson's 
camp that morning; that the camp was about three miles 
distant from that place; that she had carried him some 
chickens; that he was camped on a ridge between two 
branches where some deer hunters had a camp the last 
Fall. Major Chronicle and Capt. Mattocks stated that 
the camp referred to was their camp, and that they well 
knew the ground Ferguson was camped on. 

Whereupon it was agreed on that they should plan the 
battle, as they knew the ground. They rode a short dis- 
tance by themselves, and reported that it was an ex- 
cellent place to surround Ferguson's army, as the shoot- 
ing would all be up hill — that there would be no danger 
of our destroying each other; but doubted whether we 
had men enough to surround them. It was then instantly 
agreed on by all the officers, that we would attempt to 



25 

surround our foes. They immediately began to arrange 
their men, without stopping and assigning to each officer 
the part he was to take in surrounding the hill. By the 
time this was done, we were close to our enemy. The 
last whose duty was to be prescribed was Col. Wm. 
Graham with his men, who desired leave of absence, 
alleging that he had received certain intelligence that 
his wife was dying with the colic, about sixteen miles 
off, near Armstrong's Ford on the South Fork. Camp- 
bell stated to him that should be the greatest induce- 
ment for him to stay, that he could carry the news — and 
if we were successful, it would be to her as good as a 
dose of medicine. Graham exclaimed, "Oh my dear, 
dear wife! Must I never see her again.''" Campbell in an 
angry tone of voice turned to Major Chronicle, and said 
" shall Col. Graham have leave of absence.-"' To which 
Chronicle replied — " it is woman's business, let him go.'' 
Campbell told Graham he might go. Graham said he 
must have an escort — Chronicle told him he might have 
one; Graham chose David Dickey. Dickey said that he 
would rather be shot in [battle] than go. Chronicle said 
— "Dave — You must go." Dickey said he would rather 
be shot on the spot; 'but if I must go, I must go, I must." 
Then Col. Graham and Dickey immediately took to the 
woods, and disappeared.* 

Campbell then mentioned to Chronicle that as Graham 
has gone, you must take his place: Turning to Col. Ham- 
bright, Campbell asked " have you any objections.^" He 
replied, that it was his wish, as Chronicle best knew the 
ground. Whereupon Chronicle called " come on, my 
South Fork boys," and took the lead. 



*Col. William Graham must not be confounded with Major (afterwards General) 
Joseph Graham. They were not related to each other — Col. Graham came f-om 
Augubia County, Virginia and settled on the First Broad river then Tryon now Cleve- 
land County. He married Susan, daughter of William Twitty. Previous to this 
battle he had been a good soldier and Indian fighter and was a popular man. See 
an honoi-able sketch of him in " Hunters's Sketches of North Carolna," p. 522. 



26 

The hill was surrounded in a few minntes, and the bat- 
tle commenced. Our enemies had two to our one; of 
course their fire was double that of ours. We killed 247 
of them, and they killed 143 of our side, agreeably to the 
account of E. Gilmer and Joseph Beatty, supposed to be 
the most accurate of any. So that they having choice of 
ground, we fought them two to one; we killed as many 
more of them as they killed of us, and took more prisoners 
than we had men to guard them. But we had not a 
coward to face the hill that day — they all faded off, until 
within ten minutes of the battle, the last coward left us. 
Our equals were scarce, and our superiors hard to find. 
This is the most particular and accurate account, my 
friend, that I can give you. 

Whereupon at the head of the Round-About, I made a 
similar statement to our chain-bearers, pack-horsemen, 
&c. Mussentine Matthews made the following reply: 
•' Ah! you would have been a formidable and destructive 
set of blue hen's chickens among eggs, if each one of you 
had been provided with a good stick. When anybody 
pretends to tell the story of that transaction, it would 
be to his credit to play the game of shut mouth."* This 
elicited the following reply from Gen. Joseph McDowell: 
Before that battle (referring to Ferguson's defeat,) we 
* had sustained two shameful and disastrous defeats — that 
' of Gates by treachery; and that of Sumter by careless- 
ness, in quick succession one after the other — upon which, 
the Tories flocked to the British camps, and increased 
their numbers to two or three fold; that the country was- 
over-run, and fairly deluged with them, so much that 
from the pressure of their numbers, the souls of the brave, 
from necessity were obliged to cower under its weight, 

*A11 we know about Mussentine Matthews is that he represented Iredell County in 
the House of Commons from 1789 to 1802 continously. He was ^it'her a Tory or a 
cvnic, it seems. -^ 



and none but the bravest of, the brave withstood the 
shock. 

At the time when the news of Gates' defeat reached 
Col. Charles McDowell, he had detached Cols. Shelby 
and Sevier to go round Ferguson's camp to dislodge 
some British and Tories on the Ennoree, near to Ninety- 
Six. He then sent an express to Shelby to take care of 
himself, for Gates was defeated. Whereupon Shelby 
made the best of his way round Ferguson, and fell in with 
Charles McDowell and the main body, retreating to- 
wards Gilbert Town. Then it was suggested by Shelby, 
that a sufficient force could be raised over the Mountains, 
with the assistance from Wilkes and Surry counties, to 
defeat Ferguson. This was agreed to by all the officers 
present. The troops were raised without Government 
orders; each man had to furnish his own provisions, arms, 
ammunition, horse, and all his equipage, without the 
value of a gun flint from the public; without pay, or ex- 
pectation of pay or reward, even to the amount of a 
Continental dollar depreciated to eight hundred to one. 
They were all volunteers; they were under no compul- 
sion to go, but each man in advance consulted his own 
courage, well knowing he was going to fight before his 
return. They started in a rainy, inclement season of the 
year, without baggage wagon, pack-horse, or tent cloth, 
across the most rugged bar of mountains in the State, 
and almost pathless, having only a hunter's trail to travel, 
followed Ferguson through all his windings; at length 
over took him at King's Mountain, where he boasted the 
morning of the battle, that "he was on King's Mountain, 
and that he was king of that Mountain, and that God 
Almighty could not drive him from it." There we over- 
hauled him, fought him two to one — hence their fire was 
double that of ours; yet we killed 287 [247] of them, to 
143 they killed of us. Yet the fate of nations and of bat- 



28 

ties turn on a pivot. Ferguson, a prudent officer, finding 
himself beset and surrounded on all sides, ordered his 
regulars, who had muskets and bayonets, to charge 
bayonets on Major Chronicle's South Fork boys: The 
regulars having discharged their muskets at a short dis- 
tance with effect, in turn the Fork Boys discharged their 
rifles with fatal effect, and retreated, keeping before the 
points of the bayonets about twenty feet, until they load- 
ed again, when they discharged their rifles, each man 
dropping his man. This was treatment that British cour- 
age could not stand; they in turn retreated with precipi- 
tation; then the flag was hoisted, and all was over. 

If they had succeeded in the charge, it would have 
made a pass-way for his army, and they might have 
turned on our line on the one side of the hill, and de- 
feated us in detail, or have made good their march to 
Lord Cornwallis at Charlotte, either of which would have 
been disastrous to the American cause. We had neither 
a coward or a traitor to face the hill that day. We were 
the bravest of the brave; we were a formidable flock of 
blue hen's chickens of the game blood, of indomitable 
courage, and strangers to fear. We were well provided 
with sticks; we made the egg shells — British and Tory 
skulls — fly, like onion pealings in a windy day; the blue 
cocks flapped their wings and crowed — " we are all for 
Liberty these times;" and all was over; our equals were 
scarce, and our superiors hard to find. 

Taking the whole campaign, including the battle, I 
know of no parallel to it in the annals of ancient or 
Modern warfare; the nearest was that of the Grecian 
Leonidas and his army at the battle of Thermopyle with 
the Geat Xerxes. Leonidas and his army were found, 
victualled and clothed at public expense; each individual 
of our army had to find at his own expense; Leonidas' 
army were under Governmental orders; we were under 



29 

no government at all, but were volunteers; Leonidas' 
army were furnished with arms and camp equipage: We 
had to find our own arms, ammunition and horses at our 
own expense", Leonidas' army were uuder Government 
pay; we were under no pay or reward, or the expectation 
of any; Leonidas' army had choice of ground at the pass 
at Thermopyle; our enemies had the boasted choice of 
ground; Leonidas' army had to fight superior numbers— 
so had we; Leonidas had never a coward — neither had 
we any; but Leonidas had a traitor who was his over- 
throw and destruction of all but one man: We had 
neither coward or traitor to face our enemy — hence we 
were successful: Leonidas would have been successful, 
and have defeated or put to flight the great Xerxes 
if he had not had a traitor aboard; Leonidas' defeat 
was the destruction of the fine country of Greece, 
and the burning and destruction of their fine city of 
Athens, the labor of ages: Our success was the sal- 
vation of our country and our liberty. There is no 
parallel here: We will see if there is any in modern 
times. 

The generosity and patriotism of the great Washing- 
ton has been justly boasted of; he did not charge the 
United States anything for his services during the Revo- 
lution; he was found his food and camp equipage by the 
public, and every thing else that he stood in need of; 
his necessary incidental expenses he kept an accurate ac- 
count of, and they were paid by the public; he was paid 
for every thing else but his military services. This has 
been justly considered as great generosity and patriotism, 
and ought never to be forgotten. But this fight of the 
blue hen's chickens threw this into the shade of an 
eclipse. 

Now we will make the comparison. Washington was 
rich, and had no family to provide for; we were poor, 



} 



) 



and had families to provide for; he was provi'ded wfth a 
horse, victuals, clothing, arnr>s, camp equipage and neces- 
sary, attendance. We had to provide our own horsCy 
victuals, clothing, arms, ammuition and blankets at our 
own expense. He charged nothing for his military ser- 
vices; neither did we charge any thing for military ser- 
vices, nov did we receive anything for them; he fought 
the battles of our country with success; we did the same. 
The expedition against Ferguson, including the battle at 
King's Mountain, did not cost the State, or the United 
States, the worth of a single Continental dollar depre- 
ciated down to eight hundred to one. It w^as all done at 
the expense of bravery of the actors in that transaction. 
There is no parallel here. 

We will now take a view of the situation of the country 
after the defeats of Gates and Sumter, and before Fer- 
guson's defeat. Cornwallis was in Charlotte with a large 
army; Rawdon was in Camden with another large army; 
Leslie was at Winnsborough with a considerable army; 
Cruger at Ninety-Si.x with a large army; McGirt, 
Cunningham and Brown, each having considerable force, 
carrying on a savage war-fare of murdering, robbing, 
burning and destroying. George Lumpkin, Ben. Moore 
and others in Lincoln county, the chief of plunderers. 
Tarleton & Wemyss having large bodies of dragoons, 
the best mounted of any that were ever in the United 
States. For on the fall of Charleston, the British del- 
uged the country with Counterfeit Continental bills, send- 
ing emmisaries through the three Southern States to 
purchase up all the best horses belonging to the Whigs, 
at any price. Beside these armies, numerous squads of 
Tories, whenever they could collect ten or twelve, were 
plundering, robbing, and destroying the last piece of 
whig property they could lay their hands on belonging 
to the whigS. To finish the list, Ferguson with about 



3^ 

a,200 men, tliree fourths Tories., whose principal business 
it was to destroy whig stock: It is to be observed, that 
unore than one half of their armies consisted of Tories. 

This is a statement of facts that need's no proof; 
they cannot be contradicted or denied, for every body 
knows them to be true. This statement does riot take 
into view the garrisons at Charleston, Savannah, Augusta 
and other places in the lower country, or the numerous 
bodies of Tories in the lower part of North Carolina, 
South Carolina and Georgia completely under British 
rule, and North Carolina at the eve of it. We had no 
.army in any of the three Southern States, under Govern- 
mental orders," of any account that I know of except the 
poor fragments of Gates' defeated army, lying near the 
Virginia line. Marion's troops were volunteers, for the 
State w^as under British rule. The Mecklenburg Hornets 
Avere volunteers from the counties of Rowan, Lincoln an<i 
Mecklenburg. 

From this State of things, Cornwallis could easily have 
carried out his avowed purpose of again defeating Gates, 
and entering Virginia, with the most numerous army that 
had been on the Continent, by calling in some of his 
needless out-posts, and these numerous squads of petty- 
larceny plunderers, who were raised from poverty to af- 
fluence in a few days plundering, and having still the 
expectation of further advancement by getting the whig 
plantations if he had succeeded — the patriotic State of 
Virginia would have had to contend with him and his 
army almost single handed, for it could have received 
little aid from the conquered States, and but little from' 
Washington, or the Northern States, as they had their 
hands full with Clinton and his New York Tories. This 
was the most disastrous period for Liberty and Independ- 
ence from the time of its Declaration to the end of the 
war. Liberty and Independence were then shrouded in 



3^ 

Eg'yptian darkness. Ferguson's defeat was the turning 
point in American affairs. The battle, extraordinary as 
it was, was not more extraordinary than its effects were. 

Cornwallis on hearing that Ferguson was defeated, im- 
mediately dropped the notion of again defeating Gates 
and entering Virginia with a numerous army, being al- 
ready galled by the Mecklenburg Hornets, was panic- 
struck to think that he would, alas! have, at the same 
time, to encounter the gaffs and spurs of the blue hens' 
chickens as soon as he could filch a few days provisions 
from under the wings of the Hornets, took night's leave 
of the Hornets' Nest, lest he should disturb the wasps, 
made a precipitate retrograde march, stopping neither 
night nor day until he joined Leslie of Winnsborough. 

Instantly after Ferguson's defeat, McGirt, Cunningham 
and Brown quit their robbing, murdering, burning and 
destroying, and played the game of "the least in sight," 
and "shut-mouth" into the bargain. Lumpkin, Moore, 
etc., fled to Nocachey; the petty larceny squads of Tories 
began to seek their hiding places and holes, like rats and 
mice when the cat would make her appearance. When 
Generals Greene and Morgan came from the North with 
all the force that could be spared from that quarter, with 
the fragments of Gates' defeated army, the brave and 
cautious Gen. Morgan found that he was unable to fight 
Tarleton, fled before him, until Williams' troops, being 
chiefly South Carolina and Georgia refugees, who fought 
under Williams at Ferguson's defeat, and the other troops 
who lived on the east side of the mountains, who fought 
at the same place, heard of Morgan's retreating before 
Tarleton, and rushed to his assistance. Being thus rein- 
forced. Gen. Morgan turned about and defeated Tarleton 
at the Cowpens; Gen. Greene had to retreat before Lord 
Cornwallis until reinforced by the Mecklenburg Hornets, 
composed of volunteers from Rowan, Lincoln and Meek- 



33 

lenburg counties. Greene turned upon Cornwallis, and 
at Guilford made an equal fight, neither having the vic- 
tory. How would it have been with Generals Greene 
and Morgan if Ferguson had not been defeated.^ Tarle- 
ton's force would have been greatly increased, and Corn- 
wallis' army would have been more than double the num- 
ber that appeared on the field of battle at Guilford. All 
then that Morgan and Greene could have done would 
have been to retreat and keep out of their way, and permit 
Cornwallis, agreeably to his avowed intention, to have 
entered Virginia with the most numerous army that had 
been in the field since the commencement of the war. 
Virginia would then have had to contend single-handed 
with that formidable force, with the assistance of Gen. 
Greene. 

In short, Ferguson's defeat was the turning point in , 
American affairs. The loss of this battle would, in all 
probability, have been the loss of American Independ- 
ence and the liberty we now enjoy. I never on any occa- 
sion feel such dignified pride as when I think that my 
name counts one of the number that faced the hill at 
King's Mountain the day of that battle. Others may 
think and speak disrespectfully of that transaction who 
are in favor of monarchy and individual oppression; but 
that is not Joseph McDowell, nor you, my friend Bob. 

I have written down my narrative, and Gen. McDowell's 
reply to Musentine Matthews which he delivered to the 
boys at head of the Round-About, on the Stone Moun- 
tain, as nearly as memory would serve — thinking that 
reading it might fiill up a blank in your leisure hours, re- 
flecting on the situation of the times to which the recited 
facts refer. 

Your Friend, 

D. VANCE. 



34 



ROBERT HENRY'S ACCOUNT. 

I will now relate a few facts relative to the battle at 
King's Mountain that came within my own view, and not 
related by Col. Vance. In Vance's narrative, he refers 
to Col. W. Graham's and David Dickey's leaving the 
army to visit his wife, and Major Billy Chronicle taking 
his place, and calling on his South Fork boys to fol- 
low him. At that time Enoch Gilmer called on Hugh 
Ewin, Adam Barry and myself to follow him close to the 
foot of the hill. We marched with a quick step, letting 
Major Chronicle advance about ten steps before us, but 
further from the hill than we were, until we met the wing 
from the other side of the hill, then Chronicle having a 
military hat, but had let it down to shelter the rain from 
him, and had it not set up, clapped his hand to it in front, 
and raised it up, and cried " Face to the hill." The 
words were scarcely uttered, when a ball struck him and 
he dropped; and in a second after a ball struck Wm. 
Rabb, about six feet from Chronicle,* and he dropped. 
We then advanced up the hill close to the Tory lines: 
There was a log across a hollow that I took my stand by; 
and stepping one step back, I was safe from the British 
fire. I there remained firing until the British charged 
bayonets. When they made the charge, they first fired 
their guns, at which fire it is supposed they killed Capt. 
Mattocks, and J. Boyd, wounded Wm. Gilmer and John 
Chittim. The Fork boys fired and did considerable exe- 
cution. I was preparing to fire when one of the British 
advancing, I stepped [back] and was in the act of cock- 
ing my gun when his bayonet was running along the 

*rhere ia an interesting sketch of Major Willam Chronicle in " Hunter's Slsetches 
of North Carolina." He lived in the S. E. part of Lincoln, now Gaston county, was 
ijorn in 1755; his mother first married a McKee, and lived near Armstrong's ford: 
When McKee died she married a Chronicle, by whom she had Major William 
Chronicle. Perhaps Col. Graham would have shared Chronicle's fate, at the hand of 
the sharpshooters if he had remained. 



35 

barrel of my gun, and gave me a thrust through my hand 
and into my thigh; my antagonist and myself both fell. 
The Fork boys retreated and loaded their guns. I was 
then lying under the smoke, and it appeared that some 
of them were not more than a gun's length in front of the 
bayonets, and the farthest could not have been more 
than twenty feet in front when they discharged their 
rifles. It was said that every one dropped his man. 
The British then retreated in great haste, and were pur- 
sued by the Fork boys. 

Wm. Caldwell saw my condition, and pulled the bayo- 
net out of my thigh, but it hung to my hand; he gave 
my hand a kick, and went on. The thrust gave me much 
pain, but the pulling of it [out] was much more severe. 
With my well hand I picked up my gun, and found her 
discharged. I suppose that when the soldier made the 
thrust, I gripped the trigger and discharged her — the 
load must have passed through his bladder and cut a 
main artery of his back, as he bled profusely. 

Immediately after Wm. Caldwell drew the bayonet 
from me, then the word was that the flag was up — the 
whigs then shouted " Hurra for Liberty," three times at 
the top of their voices. It was immediately announced 
that Ferguson was killed. I had a desire to see him, and 
went and found him dead; he was shot in the face, and 
in the breast. It was said he had received other wounds. 
Samuel Talbot turned him over, and got his pocket pistol. 

Being in much pain and drouthy, went down, left my 
gun, being unable to carry her, and when I got near to 
the branch met David Dickey and Col. Wm. Graham 
riding his large black horse, wielding his sword round his 
head, crying at the top of his voice, "Dam the Tories," 
and ascended the hill. Having seen him get leave of 
absence at the commencement of the battle to see his 
wife, I was filled with excitement and a conflict of pas- 



36 

sion and extreme pain; but this brought on another set 
of feeHngs, that may be understood, but I am not pos- 
sessed of language to describe. 

I then went into the branch, drank, bathed my thigh 
and hand — then went to see whether Major Chronicle and 
Wm. Rabb were dead or wounded — found them dead. I 
saw some of the boys hauling Capt. Mattocks and John 
Boyd down the hill ; and Samuel Martin carrying Wm. 
Gilmer, who was wounded in the thigh. 

Several of the South Fork boys were desirous to start 
for home that night, and were desirous to know how 
many were killed on each side. Joseph Beatty and 
Enoch Gilmer were appointed for that purpose of count- 
ing: They reported that 248 British and Tories were 
killed, and that 143 whigs were killed; they gave no ac- 
count of the wounded. 

In the mean time Hugh Ewin, Andrew Barry and Na- 
thaniel Cook brought their horses and mine; put me on 
my horse, but could not take my gun. We rode over 
the battle-ground; saw in some places the dead lay thick, 
and other places thin. We went about five miles from 
the battle-ground, and staid for the night. My wounds 
pained me extremely. Sunday morning we started for 
home. When we came to the South Fork, the waters 
were high, and my company would not suffer me to ride 
the river, but took me across in a canoe, and hauled me 
home in a slide. 

I continued in extreme pain when my mother made a 
poultice of wet ashes, and applied it to my wounds. This 
gave me the first ease. On Monday morning by sun-rise 
Hugh Ewin and Andrew Barry came to see me, and im- 
mediately after came several Neutralists, as they called 
themselves, but were really Tories, to hear the news 
about the battle, when the following dialogue took place 
between Ewin and Barry on one part, and the Tories on 



37 

the other: Is it certain that Col. Ferguson is killed, and 
his army defeated and taken prisoners? 

E. and B. It is certain, for we saw Ferguson after he 
was dead, and his army prisoners. 

Tory. How many men had Col. Ferguson.-* 

E. and B. Nearly 1200, but not quite i2GO. 

Tory. Where did they get men enough to defeat him.'' 

E. and B. They had the South Carolina and Georgia 
Refugees, Col. Graham's men, some from Virginia, some 
from the head of the Yadkin, some from the head of the 
Catawba, some from over the mountains, and some from 
every where else. 

Tory. Tell us how it happened, and all about it. 

E. and B. We met at Gilbert Town, and found that the 
foot troops could not overtake Ferguson, and we took be- 
tween six and seven hundred horsemen, having as many 
or more footmen to follow; and we overtook Ferguson at 
King's Mountain, where we surrounded and defeated him. 

Tory. Ah ! That won't do. Between Six and seven 
hundred to surround nearly 1200. It would take more 
than 2000 to surround and take Col. Ferguson. 

E. and B. But we were all of us blue hen's chickens. 

Tory. There must have been of your foot and horse in 
all over 4000. We see w^hat you are about — that is, to 
catch Lord Cornwallis napping. 

Thus ended the dialogue, not more than two hours 
after sun-rise on Monday; and the Neutralists or Tories 
immediately departed. It was reported that they imme- 
diately swam a horse across the Catawba river by the 
side of a c^noe (the Catawba was much higher than the 
South Fork,) and gave Lord Cornwallis the news of 
Ferguson's defeat. 

Before my wounds were well, I went to Charlotte, and 
after Cornwallis had left it, where I met a David Knox, 
a brother or near relation of James Knox, the grand 



38 

father of President Polk, who gave me the following in- 
formation, to wit: That on Monday next after Ferguson's 
defeat, he, Knox, being a prisoner in the street in Char- 
lotte, that an officer came to the officer of the guard, and 
the following dialogue took place. 

The first officer said to the officer of the guard. Did 
you hear the news? 

Officer of Guard. No, what news? 

First Officer. Col. Ferguson is killed, and his whole 
army defeated and taken prisoners. 

Officer of Guard. How can that be — where did the 
men come from to do that? 

First Officer. Some of them were from South Carolina 
and Georgia Refugees, some from Virginia, some from 
the head of the Yadkin, some from the head of Catawba, 
some from over the Mountains, and some from every 
where else: They met at Gilbert Town, about 2000 des- 
peradoes on horseback, ' calling themselves blue hen's 
chickens — started in pursuit of Ferguson, leaving as many 
footmen to follow. .They overtook Col. Ferguson at a 
place called King's Mountain; there they killed Col. 
Ferguson after surrounding his army, defeated them and 
took them prisoners. 

Officer of Guard. Can this be true? 

First Officer. As true as the gospel, and we may look 
out for breakers. 

Officer of Guard. God bless us! 

Whereupon David Knox jumped on a pile of fire-wood 
in the street, slapped his hands and thighs, and crowed 
like a cock, exclaiming " Day is at hand !" Hence he 
was called Peter's Cock, having some analogy to the crow- 
ing of the cock when Peter denied his Lord the third 
time. 

It was generally considered about Charlotte and else- 
where, that this exaggerated account, given by the Neu- 



39 

tralists, of Col. Campbell's army, foot and horse, at 4000, 
which carried a strong air^f plausibility with it, was the 
reason why Lord Cornwallis immediately left Charlotte 
in the night, after the waters were passable, and did not 
stop day nor night until he met Gen. Leslie at or near 
Winnsborough. 



Mem. — Carefully transcribed from the original Manuscript in 
Robert Henry's hand-writing, sent me by mail for the purpose, 
by Dr. J. F. E. Hardy, of Asheville, N. C, Jan. 26th, 27th, 28th 
and early the 29th, 1874. 

' L. C. DRAPER. 



41 

DAVID VANCE. 

When the war between the States began, there still 
lived in North Carolina men and women who had come 
down to us from Revolutionary times. They were the 
repositories of many interesting anecdotes and reminis- 
cences of that stirring period. In addition, a mass of doc- 
umentary matter had been collected by Hawks, Wheeler, 
Swain, Graham and others ready for the pen of the his- 
torian. But the dreadful "clash of resounding arms" in 
1861, and the equally momentous events which followed 
the close of military hostilities suspended completely^ all 
efforts in this direction and the minds of men were ab- 
sorbed in the great political and social questions of the 
times which involved the very existence of the com- 
munity. 

With returning peace and prosperity loyal hearts and 
loving hands resumed the work of historical research, but 
alas! much precious time and valuable matter had been 
irretrievably lost. The survivors of the patriots of 1776- 
'81 had passed away and in their graves had been buried 
the treasures of their recollections; and many valuable 
papers collected with much care had been des'troyed. 
Yet much has been done and much remains to be done. 
We can " gather up the fragments" and preserve them 
for those who may come after us. Incidents, trifling in 
themselves apparently, but which exhibit the manners of 
the times and illustrate the character of the men who 
took part in the establishmant of our government, nov/ 
become of great interest. In addition there is the obliga- 
tion — "a pleasing burden" — we bear to preserve the 
memory and perpetuate the virtues of those brave and 
good men to whose suffering and wisdom we are in- 
debted for the blessings we enjoy. 

The following sketch of one who took an active part in 



42 

the early history of western North Carolina has been pre- 
pared chiefly for the use of his descendants. It has been 
decided to print it in order that if it shall contain any- 
thing of general interest it will be the more easily pre- 
served, 

David Vance was descended from that remarkable peo- 
ple, known as Scotch-Irish, who were among the earliest 
settlers of the Southern colonies, and from the beginning 
exercised a powerful influence in every department of af- 
fairs. His father, Samuel, about the middle of the 
eighteenth century, lived in Frederick county, Virginia, 
near " Zane's Iron Works." His wife was Miss Colville, 
and of this marriage there were five sons and three daugh- 
ters; David, the eldest, having been born about the year 
1745. His father removed to south-western Virginia and 
settled near Abingdon in 1776, where some of his de- 
scendants still reside. At what period David came to 
North Carolina is not precisely known, but about the 
year 1775 he married, in what is now Burke, but was then 
Rowan county, Priscilla Brank; and here, pursuing his 
avocation of surveyor and school-teacher, the beginning 
of the Revolutionary war found him. He seems to have 
been among the first in North Carolina who took up arms 
in support of the cause of the Colonies. He was com- 
missioned Ensign in the Second North Carolina Conti- 
nental Regiment on the 8th of June, 1776, and in April 
following was promoted to a Lieutenancy. He served 
with his regiment until May or June 1778 when, because 
of decimation from losses in battle and from sickness the 
regiments composing the North Carolina Brigade were 
consolidated by act of the Provincial Congress, he, with 
many other officers, according to Col. John Patten's re- 
turn of September 9th, 1778, was sent tp Carolina to be 
.is:iigiied to one of the four regiments which were to be 
t.hercaiter organized in North Carolina. He was with his 



43 

regiment at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and 
during that dreadful winter of i/ZJ-'/S at Valley Forge, 
and doubtless took part in all the other minor engage- 
ments of those campaigns. One of his daughters used 
to tell his grand-children that, during the privations of 
the winter at Valley Forge, the officers endeavored to 
keep up the spirits of their men by promoting games, 
contests and other amusements, and her father brought 
home from the war a " Spanish Milled dollar" which had 
been presented to him by Washington as the prize won 
in a running match. 

It does not seem that he ever re-entered the regular 
service, but resided with his family on the Catawba river, 
near Morganton, during the year 1778 and 1779, teaching 
school. He was the neighbor and fast friend of Charles 
and Joseph McDowell. When the seat of war was trans- 
ferred from the Northern to the Southern Colonies and 
the campaigns of iy8o-'8i opened in the Carolinas, he 
again became an active participant in the field, serving 
under Generals Rutherford, Davidson and Morgan in the 
militia and other temporary forces raised from time to 
time to meet the emergencies resulting from Cornwallis' 
invasion. He fought at Ramseur's Mill, Musgrove's Mill, 
Cowpens (probably), and on that glorious day at King's 
Mountain, where the long struggle for independence and 
the destiny of a continent were decided. In his narra- 
tive of the events connected with that battle he says he 
"was a captain." It is presumable therefore that in the 
forces hastily gathered for the purpose of resisting the 
advance of the British, he commanded a company, most 
probably in the batallion under Major Joseph McDowell. 

The war having been ended and the independence of 
his country secured, he resumed his peaceful pursuits, tak- 
ing, however, his share of the burden and responsibility 
in the grave task oi establishing a form of government 



44 

suitable to the condition and wants of the people. It is 
impossible for us now to appreciate the gravity of the 
situation which presented itself to the men of those times. 
The imperfect records which have been preserved of the 
discussions of the problems they were called upon to 
solve disclose the anxieties and difficulties which surround- 
ed them. Much as we admire their bravery, endurance 
and skill in war, it was in the border-fields of politics and 
statesmanship their wisdom and patriotism were more 
fully displayed. When we reflect upon the result of their 
labors and recall the prosperity and happiness the whole 
country so long enjoyed in consequence, we are almost 
impelled to believe the marvellous sagacity they exhibited 
was of divine inspiration. 

Captain Vance, as he was then called, represented 
Burke county in the General Assembly of i785-'86 and 
in 1791. He was one of the commissioners appointed by 
the legislature of 1785 to carry into effect the act passed 
at that session for the relief of the "officers, soldiers and 
seamen who had been disabled in the service of the United 
States" in the late war, and to adjust the controversies 
arising from the entries of public lands in " the District of 
Morgan." 

Soon after the treaty of peace with Great Britain, hos- 
tilities with the Cherokee Indians, who then occupied that 
portion th« State west of the Blue Ridge, ceased, and 
the fertile lands of the French Broad Valley began to at- 
tract the attention of the emigrant. Some time between 
the years of 1785 and 1790, Captain Vance crossed the 
mountains with his family and settled at the head of the 
lovely little valley of Reems Creek. He here acquired a 
large and valuable body of land upon which he built a 
comfortable home — yet standing, a good type of the sub- 
stantial frontier architecture — in which he reared his fam- 
il}' and resided the balance of his life. 



45 

This territory was in then Burke county. At the ses- 
sion of the General Assembly of 1791, Captain Vance in 
troduced and had passed the bill creating the county of Bun- 
combe. As this is the genesis of that now famous county, 
it will not be inappropriate to insert here an extract from 
the Journal of the House of Commons for Saturday, De- 
cember 17th, 1791, the General Assembly then sitting at 
New Berne: 

"Mr. Vance presented the petition of the inhabitants 
of that part of Burke county lying west of the Appala- 
chian Mountain, praying that a part of Rutherford county 
be made into a separate and distinct county. Mr. William 
Davidson presented a petition to the same effect; both of 
which being read, Mr. Vance moved for leave and pre- 
sented a bill to answer the prayer of the said petitions, which 
was read the first time, passed and sent to the Senate." 

The Journal of the Senate shows that the bill was re- 
ceived and passed by that body on the same day. The 
Mr. William Davidson referred to in this extract was the 
representative from Rutherford county, and at that time 
resided on the south side of the Swannanoa river not far 
from the present site of the city of Asheville, that part of 
Buncombe then being, or supposed to be in Rutherford 
county. 

At the organization of the county of Buncombe in April 
1792, David Vance waschosen clerk of the County Court, 
which position he continuously occupied until his death 
Some of the records of that court while he was its clerk 
are extant, and the beauty of his chirography, the order 
and neatness, as well as the accuracy of his entries, bear 
witness of his entire qualifications for the duties of his 
office 

A story is related of him m connection with his of- 
fice of clerk, which shows something of the manners of 
the time and the character of the man. On one occasion 



4^ 

two young" men called at his house, one of whom desired' 
to procure a marriage license. They were invited to en- 
ter, and the Captain soon produced from his side-board> 
a decanter, from which he invited them to refresh them- 
selves. They did so, whereupon the Captain replaced his 
decanter and proceeded to dispatch the business for which, 
they had come. When they were about to leave, one of 
the young men ventured to ask for another dram. The 
old gentleman indignantly refused, and proceeded t.o read. 
the young man a lecture, which perhaps he never forgot, 
winding up with the declaration tha.t " such a request had 
never before been heard of in the house of a gentleman." 

About the time he was elected clerk, he was appointed 
colonel of militia for Buncombe — a position then, and for 
many years after, regarded as the highest dignity and in- 
fluence in the county organizations. Thereafter he was 
know^n. as Colonel Vance. 

He, with Gen. Joseph McDowell and Mussendine Mat- 
thews were appointed commissioners by act of the Gen- 
eral Assembly at the session of 1796 to settle and mark 
the boundary line between the States of North Carolina 
and Tennessee. Although the act was passed in 1796 the 
commissianers did not run the line until the year 1799. 
They began at White Top Mountain, a point where the 
boundaries of North Carolina, \''irginia and Tennesse 
meet and ran westwardly, locating the boundary between 
Tennesse and North Carolina, to a point at the eastern 
end of the great Smoky Mountains in a gap near where 
the present Cattalooche turnpike leading from Waynes- 
ville to Tennesse,. crosses Mt. Starling. This, at that 
time,, was supposed to be the eastern boundary of the In- 
dian Territory. 

It was while running this line, the incident occurred 
which gave rise to the preparation of the accounts of the 
campaign and Battle o{ King's Mountain by Colonel 



47 

Vance and Robert Henry, Esquire, (the latter being one 
of the surveyors appointed by the commissioners) known 
as the " Vance-Henry Narrative." 

He survived until the early part of the year 1813, when, 
having- faithfully and honorably accepted and discharged 
the duties which the conditions of his life demanded; 
having justly acquired the love and veneration of his fel- 
low-citizens; having lived long enaugh to see the great 
principles for which he had fought securely established 
and his countrymen marching onward toward a glorious 
and happy future, he peacefully died, leaving behind him. 
the record of a life worthy of the emulation of all men 
and one which his descendants may proudly contemplate 
and fondly cherish. 

He was buried on a beautiful knoll a short distance 
north of his residence, a spot selected by himself as a 
last resting-place, and which, it is sai-d, he often spoke of 
as "a beautiful place from which to arise on the Resurrec- 
tion Morn." 

He left surviving him, his wife, three sons, Samuel, Da- 
vid and Robert Brank, and five daughters, Jean, who 
married Hugh Davidson; Elizabeth, who married Mitchell 
Davidson and after his death Samuel W. Davidson; Sa- 
rah, who married — — McLean; Priscilla who married 
Whitson, and Celia, who married Benjamin S. Brit- 
tain. Sam.uel and Jean, Sarah and Priscilla, with their 
husbands, about the 'beginning of this century, removed 
to and settled upon the lands in Tennesse on the Duck- 
river, which their father had provided for them. They 
le.''t numerous children, some of whom, together with many 
of their children, still reside in the vicinity. The late Judge 
Hugh Law Davidson and his brother Robert B. Davidson, 
who is still living, a highly esteemed citizen and a mem- 
ber of the Bar at Shelbyville, Tennessee, were the sons of 
Jean. 



48 

David lived and died in the county of Boncombe. He 
was the father of Hon. Zebulon B, Vance and Gen. Rob- 
ert B. Vance. 

Elizabeth and her husband settled on Jonatlians creek 
in Haywood county, where they reared a large family. 
Hon. Allen T. Davidson, now living in Asheville, is one of 
their sons. 

Robert Brank, never married, suffering from a physical 
infirmity which forbade a more active life, was carefully 
educated and became a physician, thoCigh he never prac- 
ticed his profession. He resided in Asheville. While 
still quite young, he entered public life and was elected 
to Congress, succeeding Felix Walker, the first represen- 
tative from the Transmontane District. At the next 
election he was defeated by Hon. Samuel Carson,, and in 
November following was killed in a duel with that gen- 
tleman—the unhappy event being tlie result of their 
canvas. 

Celia, the youngest child, with her husband, located in 
that part of the county of Haywood subsequently inclu- 
ded in Macon county; but soon afterwards upon the or- 
ganization of Cherokee county removed to Murphy, where 
she died in 1876, leaving a nuirtber of children and grand- 
children, many of whom reside in that vicinity, useful and 
respected citizens. 

Although the condition af the country denied to Col- 
onel Vance the opportunities for collegiate training, he 
seems to have had a taste for books. At the time of his 
death he had accumulated a respectable library for that 
period. He was careful that his children should enjoy all 
the educational advantages which were accessible to 
them. 

He was distinguished among his contemporaries for his 
soundness of judgment, integrity of conduct, firmness of 
purpose and public spirit. 



49 

Me" accuinuiated a handsome estate for those times, 
which he disposed of by will prepared by himself. It is 
an exceedingly interesting document, and perhaps no 
better index to his character now remains to us or a more 
fitting close of this imperfect sketch can be made than 
that contained in the following extracts from it: 

" I hope I may be excused for expatiating in divers 
parts of this last solemn act upon subjects that require 
clearness and plainness, for I have heard of so many in- 
stances of confusion and disagreement in families, and so 
much doubt and difficulty for want of absolute clearness 
n the testaments of departed persons, that I have often 
- o'.icluded (were there no other reasons but those which 
'esjiect the peace of surviving friends) that the last act 
■^ r ' its designation and operation, ought not to be the 
last in its composition or making; but should be the re- 
sult of cool deliberation; and (as is more frequently than 
IList.lx- aid) of a sound mind and memory, which are sel- 
di>ni ij be met with, but with sound health. All pretenses 
of insanity of mind are likewise prevented when a testa- 
tor is pointed and clear in what he wills; all cavils about 
words are obviated; the obliged are assured, and they en- 
joy the benefit, for whom the benefit was intended. 

" I, David Vance, of the county of Buncombe, in the 
State of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect 
mind and memor}-, as I hope these presents, drawn up 
by myself and written with my own hand, will tes- 
tify," &c. 

In disposing of some old slaves, he directs: 
" It is my will and desire that they have full liberty, 
and I do by these presents give them full liberty, to go 
and live with any of my children where their own chil- 
dren live, not as slaves, but as old acquaintances, who 
labored and spent their strength to raise my said chil- 
dren and their own also. I enjoin it upon my children 



so 

\vh(^ ma\' ha\'c the chiklrcii of said black old people not 
to confine them, but to let them go awhile to one, and 
awhile to aniHher, where their children may be; and 1 
enjoin it upon my children to see that the evenings of 
the li\'es of those black people slide down as comfortable 
as may be. * * '^' * /\nd 1 charije and adjure my 
negroes, old and young, as they will answer to God, to 
be obedient and obliging to their mistress and not vex or 
contrar)' her in old age. " * * * 

And now, having disposed of and settled all m)- worldly 
business and concerns, do I with a lively faith, humbly 
lay hold of the meritorious death and sufferings of Christ 
Jesus and hope and trust thro' His atonement to triumph 
in redeeming love, the ceaseless age of eternity." 



e)(sMi 



_____ _ _ cvb^rs 



'■.[] 



\ 



NMRRSTIVE 



OF THE 



BATTLE OF COWAN'S FORD, 

February isT, 1781, 



BY ROBERT HENRY, 



Narrative of the Battle of Kings Mountain, 



By Captain David Vance. 



Manuscript Preserved by Robert Henry, Esq. 



Copy Burnished by Lyman C. Draper, LL. D. 

OF Madison, Wisconsin. 



PUBLISHED BY D. SCHENCK, Sr. 



Greensboro, N. C, March 28th, 1891. 



Reece & Elam, Printers. 



